Flow-cytometric analysis of T-lymphocyte subsets after different treatment methods in patients with pericoronitis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether there was any change in T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with periocoronitis after the application of different treatment methods. Patients and Methods: Twenty-six patients with acute pericoronitis were included in the study. In every phase of the treatment (pretreatment, postcurettage, and postextraction), the biopsy samples were taken from the gingival tissues at sites of pericoronitis. Then, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte and CD4+/CD8+ ratio values were determined using flow cytometry in the biopsy samples. At the same time, gingival index (Löe-Silness) and plaque index (Silness-Löe) scores were recorded to assess the periodontal status in patients. To determine the correlation between the clinical measurements and the laboratory results obtained before the treatment, after curettage, and after extraction, we conducted an analysis using a paired t-test. Results: The normal values in peripheral blood of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes are 25% to 29% and 19% to 48%, respectively. However, the CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte values in the patients with acute pericoronitis were found to be 22.12% ± 6.15% and 7.69% ± 4.12%, respectively. These values are lower than the normal values. The CD4+ lymphocyte value increased to 31.06% ± 7.09% postcurettage and to 32.24% ± 3.11% postextraction. The CD8+ lymphocyte value increased to 16.21% ± 5.27% postcurettage and to 18.25% ± 3.13% postextraction. The CD4/CD8 ratio increased postcurettage and postextraction. This increase was statistically significant (P